Police cells on wheels unveiled

Britain's first purpose-built mobile police cells were being unveiled today.

The £97,000 Mobile Custody Unit will allow police officers to process yobs and criminals on their own doorsteps.

British Transport Police intend to use the unit, mounted on a lorry, to crack down on robbers, ticket touts and other anti-social offenders.

The unit was being officially opened today by London transport minister Tony McNulty at Stratford Rail and Bus Station in east London.

The force will be able to use the facilities anywhere in London and it will also be available to other constabularies.

"We are bringing the cells right to the very doorsteps of the criminal," said Chief Superintendent Paul Crowther.

"The availability of custody facilities on site saves an enormous amount of time.

"It means that for the most part we don't have to have vans to pick up prisoners to take to local police stations and we can process prisoners more quickly, so officers are back out on the streets catching more villains.

"There will be no hiding place for vandals, touts, drunks and other anti-social elements."

The unit is 10.5 metres long and has six single cells, including one designed for vulnerable or juvenile prisoners.

Can be held up to six hours

It also has a reception area and an interview room.

Mr McNulty said: "This facility will give the British Transport Police in London more flexibility in dealing with low-level crime.

"They will be able to process prisoners quicker, freeing up officers to patrol trains and stations."

Police will be able to hold suspects for up to six hours in the Mobile Custody Unit before they have to be transferred to a designated police station or released.

It has toilets and a generator can provide power for up to 30 hours at a time.

Other forces in England and Wales already have similar facilities, including South Wales, but this is the first purpose-built unit to come into service, a British Transport Police spokesman said.